Potato digger of the underslung type



April 23, 1940. w. E. TEMPLETON POTATO DIGGER OF THE UNDERSL-UNG TYPEFiled May 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W/LL//IM E. TEMPLETo/v am?fnwm.,

ATTORNEY mm m .n

April 23, 1940. w. E. TEMPLETON 2.198.427 I POTATO DIGGER OF' THEUNDERSLUNG TYPE Filed May 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC-3.4

INVENTOR W/.` L IAM E. TEMPLETON ATTORN EY April 23, 1940.

Filed May 1e, 1939 W. E. TEM PLETON POTATO DIGGER OF THE UNDERSLUNG TYPE4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f lNvz-:NToR w/LLVAM E TEMP/ ETo/v ATTORNEY April 23,1940. w, E, TEMPLETQN 2,198,427

POTATO DIGGER OF THE UNDERSLUNG TYPE Filed May 16, 1959 4 sheets-sheet 4INVENTOR WILLIAM E TEMPLETON MQW ATTORNEY .aiative portions of thePatented Apr. 23, 1940 @Nitti roTATo BIGGER (ir-Tui: UNDERSLUNG TYPE.

William E. Templeton, Mercer-County, Pa. Appiication May 16, 1939,Serial No. 273,927

This invention relates t0 a potato digger of the underslung type,so-designated because it is adapted to be mounted beneath and inunderslung relation to any suitable wheel-mounted :1 vehicularcontrivance, and to receive operative power for its digging andconveying functions from the running gear or other suitable powersupplying element, such as the power take-off of a tractor; two forms ofvehicle being shown in wld the drawings, the preferred form being asimple rectangular frame structure mounted upon the f axle of twowheels, which extends acrossk the frame, and is caused to revolve withthe wheels; from said axle, power is taken to drive the operdigger.Another lform of drive may be the power-take-off at'the rearward portionof any of the farm tractors, of which there are many upon the market,that have been extensively adopted to numerous branches of farming.

My invention is herein illustrated .as a single row and as a two-rowdigger, and the various figures of the drawings are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a trailer type embodying the invention, showinga portion of one side, the left side of a conveyor, as viewed from therear, together with the adjacent outwardlyspaced portion of the vehicleframe, beneath which said conveyor is underslung inlongitudinally-level, universally-rigid relation thereto, and from therunning gear of which vehicle the operative elements of said conveyorare driven, to indicate the practically-operative and cooperativerelations of the parts there illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the near side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rearward portion of a modified form of myimproved digger for two rows which is underslung beneathfa tractor, adumping cradle being shown in operative relation to the rearward,discharge end of its respectively-related conveyor night;

Fig. 4 is a rearward elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a central-vertical, longitudinal sectionthrough the bed of asingle conveyor unit of my improved digger and its related, voperativedigging, conveying, vine-engaging and impelling mechanisms.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one tractor-type complete digging,conveying and dumpingunit of 'this invention together with a portion ofthe tractor frame from, or beneath which, it is underslung inhorizontally-level, universally-rigid `relation thereto.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section of 4an end glporntion-of :a flight orIrung ofthe .conveyor Atogether ywith adjacent links :and othervelements thereof. eFig. 18 is a side view :of .a short section, i. e.vone whole link and .an end portionof the two adjacent links of .theeievatorshain. .5

Fig. 9 is :aside elevation ,o an agitator sprocket .over :which-the `top.onload-,carrying flight of the .elevator chain travels.

v l Fig. .210 is 4a'plan'view :of one-end .of aconveyor .rungnor :Hight.and :the overlapping ends of `the :'10 links 1in which said :end -ismounted.

flg. l1 is a central, longitudinal section through the scoop,l and :the.shovel `which is carried thereby.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are shovel details.

Fig. 15 is a typical illustration of a power ytakeoli', of a tractor towhich are added,'in accordance with this invention, certain speed-change1 gearing, suitable for .operating my improved digger, a rear elevationof this power-takeoff being .-20 shown in Fig. 4, anda plan View thereofin Fig. v3.

By reference Vto Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings it -will1be readily seenthat my invention vrelates lto a pair of diggers which are adapted vtobe underslung beneath Aany `suitable wheeled lvehicular .-25 carryingdevice, and inrelatively laterally spaced parallel relation to eachother; -said vehicular contrivance maybe one of the various-.types ',Offarm tractors, as illustrated in Figs. A3 and-4 or it may be a speciallyconstructed and simpliiied 1:30 lvehicular contrivance, as illustratedin Figs. 1 ,and 2.

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 1 4and 2, -it is pointed out thatthe main, or Vprimary factors in the related construction isa diggingand .con- .35 veying organizationfof which there are preferably two,each of which comprise longitudinallyextending side rails,-one upon eachside of the machine. However, `inasmuch as my improved digger mayconsist of oneor more duplicate dig- A0 ging organizations which Vfortwo row diggers are arranged one upon each side of the longitudinalcenter line of the wheeled vehicular carrying .contrivance,oneonlythereof will be specifically .described with, howeventhe intent andpurpose :4,5 that this description should be vunderstood `ascontemplating single or .duplicate digging and conveying organizations.y

Referring now especially toFigs. land 2 of f the drawings, it is pointedout that the vehicular .50 organization here .shown comprises two wheels.one ofwhich is indicated inFigs. 1 and.2 by the numeral I; this wheelis mounted upon the outer end of an axle 42: which is carried within a:tubular :housing A3. A longitudinally-extending .55

side rail 4 is mounted upon and securely xed rigidly to said axlehousing 3. To the rear and end of said rail 4 and extending downwardlytherefrom, is rmly and rigidly secured the upper end of a column 5 ofwhich there are two for each conveyor or one upon each side. At a pointupon said rail 4 forwardly of said axle, is firmly attached a downwardlyextending strut 6, of which there are two for each conveyor, one uponeach side. Beneath said axle and extending in longitudinal alignmentwith said side rail, is mounted a digging and conveying organizationwhich is shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 5; also in side elevationin Fig. 6. Said digging and conveying organization consists of anelongated universally, operatively, rigid channel-like structure havingvertically extending, laterally-spaced, parallel side walls 1, andinwardly tuned anges l', at the lower longitudinal edges thereof, theforward end of which is provided with a digging shovel 8 and at itsrearward end with a potato receiving and dump crate or cradle 9. Saidshovel is mounted at its rearward, jointed end upon its forwardcooperablyjointed end of said conveyor or channel, in such manner thatthe forward end or point of the shovel may be lowered and directed intothe 'soil at various depths or lifted to travel thereabove.

At the rearward end of said channel adjacent the bottom of the conveyor,a driving sprocket IIJ Fig. 5 is provided; at the forward end of saidconveyor, a return sprocket II is provided, with rollers II and agitatorsprockets II at intermediate positions.

For the purpose of driving said sprocket Il), the vehicle wheel I or itsaxle, is provided in any suitable manner with a driving gear I2 Fig. 2,together with a train of gears as I3, I3, from which train a drivingchain I Il extends to and drives the sprocket I5 which is mounted uponthe outer projecting end of the shaft I 6-Figs. 1 and -which, inturn,.is provided with drive sprockets Ill- Fig 5-by which the conveyorflights are engaged and driven.

Referring especially to Figs. 2, 5 and 6, it is there illustrated thatthe rearward portion of the shovel is hinged to the adjacent end of theconveyor frame and that as the conveyor passes over the return pulley IIwhich is positioned at a point intermediate the digging element and therearward edge of the scoop, said conveyor engages the soil, potatoes andvines loosened by the shovel, and conveys them to the rear end of theconveyor where they are discharged into the dump cradle 9, to betherefrom periodically discharged, the greater portion of the vinesbeing projected over the rearwardly projecting bars 9 beyond thereceiving and dumping cradle 9. The construction, mounting and dischargeaction of said cradle will be understood by reference to Fig. 6, whereit is shown that said cradle is secured, at the lower rearward edge, tothe conveyor frame by means of a pivotal shaft I1: and that, to theprojecting end of said shaft, the fulcrum end of a dumping lever I8, isactuatively attached; the rearward end of said lever rests upon a rigidpin or stop I 9, when the cradle is in its load-receiving position; astrong tension spring 26 normally retains said lever at this stopposition; the free end of said lever extends rearwardly beyond said stopand encroaches upon the line of travel of a tripping pin 2I which iscarried by and at the inner side of the wheel I; at each revolution ofsaid wheel, said tripping pin 2| impinges upon the lower edge of saidlever and raises the same, thus producing a dumping ace tion of saidcradle and a simultaneous stretching of spring 20, until the travel ofsaid pin causes its release from said lever, whereupon the recoil ofsaid spring causes the return of the cradle to its load-receivingposition.

Referring to Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, a description will now begiven of, the vine-apron 22; the lower face of said apron travels in thesame direction as the upper adjacent face of the conveyor and is adaptedto sag throughout its length for the purpose of producing a sunicientlycompact state of thc potato vines and a correspending degree of frictionthereon, to cause said vines to travel at an even rate of speedtherewith. Said vine apron is a continuous web of suitable flexiblematerial such as heavy canvas, and the face thereof which is adjacentthe conveyor is provided with suitable projections 23 to impartvine-engaging and propelling action thereto, which action is, in a largemeasure, due to the fact that said apron sags naturally throughout itslength.

By reference to Fig. 1 it is pointed out that said apron is driven fromshaft I6 by means of a twisted belt 23 which passes about the pulley 24and imparts the desired direction of rotation to the roller 25 whichpropels said apron; the position of the apron pulley 26 is such as tocause the conveyor face of said apron to sag into close proximity to theadjacent upper face of said conveyor.

Although properly-selected soil for the raising of potatoes is usuallyfriable and easily cultivated or worked, as in the digging of potatoes,other kinds of soils such as heavy clay, or a stony condition, mustoften be employed, and in such cases it is sometimes difficult to raisethe shovelpoint from soil in which it is operating; upon this account Ihave provided the shovel with a tension-spring device as 27, whichmaterially assists in the manual operation of raising the shovel pointby the usual lever means as 28. Furthermore, inasmuch as newly-clearedsoil is often used for raising potatoes, snags, roots and otherobstructions are likely to be encountered. For the purpose of avoidingserious damage and breakage because of such conditions, I have provideda shovel-point construction which materially lessens the liability toserious damage. Referring to Figs. 1l and 12 of the drawings it ispointed out that the main point of attachment of the shovel 8 to thescoop 8 of the conveyor, is at the pivotal point X; rearwardly of saidpivotal point at a neutral operative point, are two holes 29 and 29drilled through the flange 3IJ of the shovel; there are also registeringholes 30 and 30 drilled through contacting side of the scoop-flange 8".Into these registering holes is selectively inserted according to theshovel angle adjustment desired at a frictionally-retained fit anysuitably-frangible pin or dowel 3| which will be broken or sheared atless than a damaging stress upon the shovel point; a pin or dowel of thekind mentioned may be quickly, easily and inexpensively replaced.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, in a potato-digger of the specified, two-row,underslung type, a pair of. elongated, substantially level,horizontally-extending, universally rigid, 1atcrallyspacedapartconveyor-frames; a vehicular organization of the type provided withwheel axles beneath which said conveyor frames are carried with theirlower -of llow resistance for feeding material to said faces insubstantially uniform proximity to the lground throughout their length;each of said conveyor frames'carrying at and projecting beyond theforward dig-ging end thereof, a hingeattached, vertically swingablescoop, actuative into and out of digging relation to the ground, adigging blade adjustably mounted at the forward end of. said scoop, saidblade having a horizontally disposed forward portion when in yoperativeposition beneath the surface of the soil, a conveyor mounted within andadapted to be causedr to travel throughout the length of its respectiveconveyor-frame from a forward lpoint substantially coincident with thehinge point of its respective scoop to a rearward point such as to causethe conveyor to discharge its load rearwardly of the machine.

2. vIn combination with the conveyor channel and its relatedorganization set'iorth in claim 1; a normally, rearwardly-extending,potato-receiving and automatically, periodically load-.dischargingcradle mounted in hinged relation at its adjacent edge to the rearwardend of its respectively-associated conveyor channel, in rearwardly,horizontally-extending load-receiving and carrying position relativelythereto; flexible tension-means normally acting to retain said cradle`in its load-'receiving position, and meansautomatically-acting to causesaid cradle to assume its load-discharging position; said flexibletension means being adapted to cause said cradle to return to itsload-receiving position upon discharge of the load therefrom.

3. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products having incombination a tractor,

a low positioned conveyor unit, suspended beeath the frame and axles ofsaid tractor, means providing a return path for said conveyor belthaving adequate clearance from the ground, and an adjustable diggingblade mounted on the forward end of said conveyor unit in substantiallycontinuous flat product conveying relation thereto, with an activeportion operable below and substantially parallel to the ground, at apoint adjacent the front of the tractor, whereby downward nosing of theblade and apparatus is avoided.

4. A low angle apparatus forv digging subsurface products having incombination a tractor, a low positioned conveyor unit, suspended beneaththe frame and axles of said tractor, means providing a return path forsaid conveyor belt having adequate clearance from the ground, anadjustable digging blade mounted on the forward end of said conveyorunit in substantially continuous fiat product conveying relationthereto, with an active portion operable below and substantiallyparallel to the ground, and frangible means connecting said blade withsaid conveyor unit at a neutral point substantially horizontally behindsaid pivot and normally free of driving thrust, for protecting saidblade from damage through heavy impact.

5. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeing thesame from the soil, having in combination a frame providing a lowpositioned conveyor trackway, a belt type conveyor having a return pathon said trackway in straight closely spaced relation to the ground, anda load carrying path in the opposite direction at a higher level but ata low enough angle to provide maximum sifting action and minimum injuryto the load, means for agitating said load carrying section of theconveyor, and digging means adjustable to engage the soil at an angleconveyor.

v6. In a low angle apparatus for digging, conveying, and siftingsubsurface vproducts the combination of a frame providing alow'positioned conveyor trackway, a link-and-'liight belt type conveyorhaving a return path on said trackway, said trackway having means forpositively holding said conveyor in straight non-sagging closely spacedrelation to the ground throughout its length, a plurality of 'rollerbearings providing `an lelevated vload-carrying and soil-sifting pathfor said conveyor, and a power applying means engaged with said conveyorfor driving the same.y

7. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products having incombination a frame providing a low positioned conveyor trackway, alink-and-flight belt type conveyor having areturn path on said trackwayin straight nonsagging closely spaced relation to the ground,`aplurality of roller bearings providing an elevated load-carrying andsoil-sifting path for said conveyor, roller contact members adjacent theends of the transverse flight bars, and power applying gear wheelsengaging said contact members suc'' cessively for driving said conveyor.

8. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products having incombination a frame providing a low level conveyor trackway, alinkand-flight belt type conveyor having a return path on said trackwayin straight non-sagging closely spaced relation to the ground, aplurality of roller bearings providing an elevated loadcarrying andsoil-sifting path for said conveyor, roller contact members adjacent theends of the transverse flight bars, resilient load cushioning meansengaged over the intermediate portions of said transverse night bars andabutting said roller contact members at each end, and power applyinggear Wheels engaging said contact members successively for driving saidconveyor.

9. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeing thesame from the soil, having in combination a combined conveyor and soilsifter supported in shielded closely spaced relation to the ground, anangularly adjustable blade for transferring products from the soil tosaid conveyor on an inclined plane' of low traction resistance, andvmeans at the delivery end of said conveyor for receiving the productsfree of adhering soil. l

l0. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeingthe same from the soil, having in combination a combined conveyor andsoil sifter supported in shielded closely spaced relation to the ground,angularly adjustable means for transferring products from the soil tosaid conveyor on an inclined plane of low traction resistance, means atthe delivery end of said conveyor for receiving the products free ofadhering soil, and means acting'at regular intervals for dischargingaccumulations of said products from said receiving means.

11. A low angle apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeingthe same from the soil, having in combination a combined conveyor andsoil sifter supported in closely spaced relation to the ground,angularly adjustable means for transferring said products from the soilto said conveyor on an inclined plane of low traction resistance, meansat the delivery end of said conveyor f'or receiving the products free ofadhering soil, a dumping mechanism associated with said receiving means,and elements on a moving part of said apparatus for positively trippingsaid dumping mechanism at predetermined intervals.

12. A 10W angle apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeingthe same from the soil, having in combination a combined conveyor andsoil sifter supported in closely spaced relation to the ground,angularly adjustable means for transferring said products from the soilto said conveyor on an inclined plane of low traction resistance, meansat the delivery end of said conveyor for receiving the products free ofadhering soil, and means for directing vines away from said productreceiving receptacle.V

13. An apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeing the samefrom the soil, having in combination a Wheeled vehicle, a pair ofcombined conveyor and soil sifting units in spaced parallel positionbeneath said vehicle, an angularly positioned member providing aninclined plane for feeding each of said conveyors, a digging shovelpivotally mounted on each of said members, and driving means for saidunits disposed intermediate said conveyors comprising driving elementsconnected with a power shaft and rotating said conveyors at apredetermined speed independent of said vehicle speed.

14. An apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeing the samefrom the soil, having in combination a combined conveyor and soilsifting mechanism, comprising flight members formed of a plurality ofsubstantially parallel transverse bars secured at their respectiveopposite ends to link shaped plates, separate plate links adapted to bepivotally connected in chain relation to said respective link shapedplates by pivot pins holding said plates in dirt excluding pivotedrelation, bearing contact members positioned adjacent tlie ends of saidtransverse bars immediately inside of said plates, and means for drivingsaid conveyor by engagement with successive bearing contact members.

15. lAn apparatus for digging subsurface products and freeing the samefrom the soil, having in combination a combined conveyor and soilsifting mechanism, comprising night members formed of a plurality ofsubstantially parallel transverse bars secured at their respectiveopposite ends in link shaped plates, separate plate links adapted to bepivotally connected in chain' relation to said respective link shapedplates by pivot pins holding said plates in dirt excluding pivotedrelation, bearing contact members positioned adjacent the ends of saidtransverse bars immediately inside of said plates, and resilientload-cushioning means engaged on each respective transverse iiight barand abutting at its ends against said bearing contact members.

WILLIAM E. TEMIPLETON.

